Device and method for sampling a nicotine product

ABSTRACT

A method of purchasing one or more nicotine products includes: providing one or more sample sticks with an ingestible coating, the ingestible coating representing one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; displaying the one or more sample sticks to a purchaser of the one or more nicotine products; sampling the one or more sample sticks representing the one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; and purchasing the one or more nicotine products based on the one or more sampled flavors of the one or more nicotine products.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/643,142 titled “A Device and Method for Assisting in Selection of a Regulated Product” filed on Mar. 14, 2018 and to U.S. Provisional Application 62/712,969 titled “Device and Method for Sampling a Nicotine Product” filed on Jul. 31, 2018 both, of which, are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices for sampling products and more specifically to methods and devices for sampling nicotine products.

SUMMARY

A method of purchasing one or more nicotine products includes: providing one or more sample sticks with an ingestible coating, the ingestible coating representing one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; displaying the one or more sample sticks to a purchaser of the one or more nicotine products; sampling the one or more sample sticks representing the one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; and purchasing the one or more nicotine products based on the one or more sampled flavors of the one or more nicotine products.

The ingestible coating weight may be between 0.0001 and 20 grams. The one or more sample sticks may be hollow sample sticks. The one or more sample sticks may be solid sample sticks. The ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks may be flavored with non-nicotine derivatives of the one or more nicotine products. The ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks may be flavored with a non-nicotine additive flavor. The ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks may be flavored with one or more artificial flavors matching the one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products. The one or more hollow sample sticks may provide a passage for nicotine vapors of the one or more nicotine products to be inhaled. The one or more nicotine products may be a cigarette, an e-cigarette, a cigar, an e-liquid, chewing tobacco, or a combination thereof. The ingestible coating weight may be between 0.0001 and 1 gram.

A sampling device for an inhaled nicotine product includes: a substrate; an ingestible coating disposed on the substrate, the ingestible coating containing at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product or at least one flavoring to augment a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product; and wherein, the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 40 grams.

The sampling device substrate may be a hollow substrate. The ingestible coating weight may be between 0.0001 and 20 grams. The ingestible coating weight maybe between 0.0001 and 1 gram. The substrate may further comprise a hollow substrate channel for channeling the inhaled nicotine product. The substrate may form at least a portion of a sampling mouthpiece of an electronic nicotine vaporization device. The inhaled nicotine product may be an e-liquid. The at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product may be a derivative of the inhaled nicotine product. The at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product may be a non-nicotine additive flavoring. The at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product may be an artificial flavoring.

Sample Sticks provide a device and method to test the flavor of a nicotine product, electronic cigarette, and/or tobacco product with or without inhaling the product itself. In the vapor/tobacco industry inhalation sampling of electronic cigarette products is the primary form of testing the products by consumers. Taste sampling via inhalation is the standard industry practice. This makes it difficult for vapor products to be sold in traditional retailer outlets and cumbersome for vapor and tobacco specialty retailers. Sample Sticks mimics the unique flavor that any specific flavor and turns it into a harmless edible form. Free sampling of tobacco products is banned by the US FDA. Sample Sticks are not classified by the FDA as a tobacco product allowing them to be distributed freely by manufacturers. They also broaden manufacturers' distribution potential as testing in e commerce and in traditional retailers is impossible with the industry standard. It also solves the problem of sampling bans and indoor smoking bans for existing retailers. In one embodiment, sampling sticks may be constructed from an opaque 100 mm×3 mm diameter polypropylene stick with a hard-transparent editable coating applied to one end. In another embodiment, a consumer pulls a disposable Sample Stick from a retail display or package places the coated end on their tongue and as the edible solution dissolves they experience the same taste in their mouth as if they had inhaled the flavored tobacco product. There is a need, in the tobacco industry, for a non-regulated sampling device and method for sampling nicotine products, electronic cigarettes, and/or tobacco products with and without inhaling the product itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a user sampling a sampling stick in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows sampling sticks in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows sampling sticks in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows sampling sticks in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a sampling product stand and method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7A-7D show sampling mouthpieces in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows an application of a sampling mouthpiece in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 shows an application of a sampling mouthpiece in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a method 100 and a device 102 for sampling nicotine, tobacco, or an electronic cigarette product using sampling stick 102. Consumer 104 can sample, while in a retail setting, nicotine, tobacco, or electronic cigarette products and flavors using sample stick 102. Sample stick 102 may contain an edible or ingestible coating with flavorings representing a nicotine product. The nicotine product may be e-liquids, vape juice, electronic cigarette juice, cigarettes, cigars, and/or chewing tobacco products.

FIG. 2 shows various sampling devices 200 which enable a consumer to determine a flavor of a nicotine, tobacco, or electronic cigarette before purchasing the product. In one embodiment, stick 206 is a tooth pick with a hard candy type coating 208. Coatings 208, 210, and 212 may contain flavorings or substances which match or resemble nicotine, tobacco, and/or electronic cigarette product flavorings and/or ingredients. Sampling devices 200 may also be used to assist consumers of nicotine, tobacco, and electronic cigarette products to stop using such products or to curb an appetite for such a product while the consumer is unable to use the actual product. Sticks 202 and 204 may be made of a plastic, polymer, wood, paper, or other commonly known and used materials.

FIG. 3 shows a method 300 for selection of an e-liquid (liquid nicotine product). In one embodiment, a consumer enters a public store to purchase an e-liquid. The consumer is presented with several flavors of e-liquids and decides to sample one or more e-liquid flavors 302. After selection of a flavor, the consumer swirls the sample stick on their tongue 304. The consumer may sample several flavors before deciding on one or more flavors to purchase. The consumer purchases the selected e-liquids 306 based on their sampling of the e-liquid sampling sticks. The sample sticks are thrown away or recycled (disposed of) by the consumer 308.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view 400 of two plastic sample sticks 404 with a clear sampling substance 402 on the end of the sampling sticks 404. The sampling substance 402 may be candy like with various flavors representing a nicotine product. The sampling substance may be an ingestible substance with flavorings, like a sucker or hard candy.

FIG. 5 shows sampling sticks and bulk packaging of sample sticks 500. Sampling sticks may be disposable and inexpensive allowing the sampling sticks to be a viable sampling option for selling and advertising nicotine products.

FIG. 6 shows a sample stick stand and method of choosing an e-liquid flavor. In one example, a consumer is presented with five different sampling flavors: amazing apple, strawberry bliss, sweet mint, fresh peaches, and warm vanilla. When deciding which flavor of nicotine liquid to choose, a customer is able to sample the flavor before purchasing the e-liquid product or nicotine product.

FIGS. 7A-7D show various sampling mouthpiece devices 702. Each of the sampling mouthpiece devices 702 include a through hole 706 which connects a first end 704 (mouth end) to a second end 708 (e-cigarette coupling end). Each sampling mouthpiece 702 also includes an ingestible (edible) portion 704 with one or more flavoring or ingredients that represent a nicotine product or that flavor or augment a nicotine product. For example, a non-flavored e-liquid may be sold with a flavored, disposable mouthpiece 702. Disposable mouthpieces 702 may additionally be used to sample an e-cigarette product such as an e-liquid. Disposable mouthpieces 702 may also be used to share a common nicotine vaporization device between many users who each have or use a separate (personal) disposable mouthpiece. Each mouthpiece may include plastic or paper sheathing in, on, or around the e-cigarette coupling end allowing for easy insertion or mating between the mouthpiece 702 and an e-cigarette device. In some embodiments mouthpiece 702 may be made of a flavored, candy-like substance with a sheathing for coupling over or inside of an e-cigarette device (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In other embodiments, mouthpiece 702 may be a multipart body with the main body portion made of plastic, paper, etc., and the edible portion applied to the body portion material.

FIG. 8 shows an e-cigarette device 810 with a sampling mouthpiece 802 positioned over the original e-cigarette mouthpiece 812. Sampling mouthpiece 802 includes an ingestible, flavored portion 804 which resembles a nicotine product and/or augments a nicotine product dispensed from within e-cigarette device 810.

FIG. 9 shows an e-cigarette device 910 with a sampling mouthpiece 902 positioned inside of the original e-cigarette mouthpiece insertion point 914. Sampling mouthpiece 902 includes an ingestible, flavored portion 904 which resembles a nicotine product and/or augments a nicotine product dispensed from within e-cigarette device 910. Mouthpiece 902 may include plastic or paper sheathing in, on, or around the e-cigarette coupling end 902 allowing for easy insertion or mating between the mouthpiece 902 and an e-cigarette device insertion point 914.

The systems and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

1. A method of purchasing one or more nicotine products comprising: providing one or more sample sticks with an ingestible coating, the ingestible coating representing one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; displaying the one or more sample sticks to a purchaser of the one or more nicotine products; sampling the one or more sample sticks representing the one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products; and purchasing the one or more nicotine products based on the one or more sampled flavors of the one or more nicotine products.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 20 grams.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample sticks are hollow sample sticks.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sample sticks are solid sample sticks.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks is flavored with non-nicotine derivatives of the one or more nicotine products.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks is flavored with a non-nicotine additive flavor.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ingestible coating of the one or more sample sticks is flavored with one or more artificial flavors matching the one or more flavors of the one or more nicotine products.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more hollow sample sticks provide a passage for nicotine vapors of the one or more nicotine products to be inhaled.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more nicotine products is a cigarette, an e-cigarette, a cigar, an e-liquid, chewing tobacco, or a combination thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 1 gram.
 11. A sampling device for an inhaled nicotine product comprising: a substrate; an ingestible coating disposed on the substrate, the ingestible coating containing at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product or at least one flavoring to augment a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product; and wherein, the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 40 grams.
 12. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the substrate is a hollow substrate.
 13. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 20 grams.
 14. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the ingestible coating weight is between 0.0001 and 1 gram.
 15. The sampling device of claim 12, wherein the substrate further comprises: a hollow substrate channel for channeling the inhaled nicotine product.
 16. The sampling device of claim 15, wherein the substrate forms at least a portion of a sampling mouthpiece of an electronic nicotine vaporization device.
 17. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the inhaled nicotine product is an e-liquid.
 18. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product is a derivative of the inhaled nicotine product.
 19. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product is a non-nicotine additive flavoring.
 20. The sampling device of claim 11, wherein the at least one flavoring representing a flavor of the inhaled nicotine product is an artificial flavoring. 